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HAPPY JUNE! My husband and I ran our SIXTH 5K race of the year this weekend. Our goal is to do one 5K for each month of the year, but since the summer months get extremely hot here, we are trying to rack up our 5K’s while we can, in case there is a lull in local events and races. Our next one that we are planning on doing isn’t until the end of June, so I have plenty of time to hill train from now until then, which I definitely need to do. The race we will be doing at the end of June is practically around the corner from our house, and the area that we live in is quite hilly.
I thought I would use the same breakdown format from my 5K Race Tips, Tricks, & Experiences: Comparing Five Different 5K’s article and apply it to the race we just did on Saturday…
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RACE NAME: YMCA Run Red Bank 5K
RACE REGISTRATION COST: $30 per person (included a short-sleeved shirt, a coozy, and coupons inside)
RACE DATE: May 30th, 2015
RACE TIME: 8:30am
MY FITNESS LEVEL/WEIGHT: I am currently at my lightest weight in years. I feel freakin’ fantastic in terms of how much I’ve lost. My clothes fit better and I feel lighter on my feet when I’m running. My fitness level in terms of endurance is also at an all-time high in years, though I still struggle with inclines and hill running at this point.
RACE WEATHER: Foggy, overcast (morning clouds), muggy, sticky, humid, and warm. I could feel the moisture collecting on my skin from the fog and humidity in the air while we were stretching before the race.
RACE CROWD: Diverse in terms of ages and fitness levels. This was actually the first race in which I saw a huge jump in times quite quickly. The first page of race results is usually the first 50 people and their per-mile times varied from 5:32 to 10:04. It was extremely supportive…actually, maybe the most supportive crowd at any of the races I’ve participated in. There were people cheering everywhere along the race course (some even with signs!) and even the police who had the roads blocked off were motivating us to keep going. Every single person I passed was cheering me on and encouraging me. I really dig the camaraderie during races and it helped me to push through.
RACE ACCOMMODATIONS (parking, snacks, etc): This is where this race gets a solid C or D from me on a grading scale. The parking was simple and fast, but the accommodations were tricky. The walk from your car to the start of the race was a solid 1/4 mile of inclines and rocky pathways. This is a YMCA camp, so I can’t completely fault them for their setup because they were basically working with what they had. The tents with the water, bananas, and fruit were through a long pathway in the woods. Then, to exit the race, you had to climb through a pathway in the woods basically straight uphill. It’s nothing personal to the event organizers, but when I’ve just done a hill-tastic 5K race, I really don’t want to have to hike back to my car straight uphill or hike to get a bottle of water.
MY RACE GEAR: Capri athletic leggings, my calf compression sleeves, Brooks Glycerin 12’s, sports bra, tank top, my Yurbuds headphones, a moisture-wick headband, and my armband sleeve for my phone. It’s starting to get really hot out there though, so I think the next few races are going to be all in shorts, especially since the calf sleeves make my legs warm.
RACE TERRAIN: Rolling, long hills with some sandy “trail-like” pathways. This course didn’t have as steep of inclines as the last race we did 2 weeks ago, but they were longer hills, so it really becomes an issue of endurance versus exertion. This course required you to have endurance on hills because there were long uphills and long downhills. I think I prefer to have a steeper incline but a shorter hill, like in the race we did 2 weeks ago, but maybe I’m only saying that because my hill endurance isn’t that great yet. I personally did better during that race 2 weeks ago. My husband thought this race course was easier and I argued that I thought it was more difficult slightly. Again, definitely an issue of endurance versus exertion.
MY ANTHEM FOR THIS RACE (from my 5K Playlist): The Distance by Cake. If you’ve never listened to this song, it is a must for your exercise playlist, especially if you’re running. The lyrics are spot on and will make you push yourself.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS RACE: It’s short season for races! I thought I could get away with capri leggings for this race, but with my calf compression sleeves, it’s too warm. Shorts are a must for the next few races. My other biggest lesson and goal right now continues to be hill training endurance. I’ve committed myself to focusing on that at the gym by bumping my inclines up on the treadmill and also running around my neighborhood which is very hilly.
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I bought these Brooks Glycerin 12 Running Shoes a few weeks ago. It was a splurge on myself for hitting 40lbs lost and coming this far. I finally feel super legit with these because they are actually fitted for different types of foot arches. I tried on several different pairs in store and these were the ones that felt the best on me. I highly recommend trying on various Brooks sneaker models in store before purchasing. Every single one that I tried on felt completely different to my own feet, especially when I walked up and down the length of the store. You’ll know when you try on and find the right pair.
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I invested in an Inkwell Press Hardcover Health & Fitness Log Journal recently. I’ve gotten really into the whole planner hobby (that’s another post for another day), and I thought this one would be perfect. It’s specifically set up for a 12 Week Plan, so you can measure yourself, weigh yourself, write down specific goals and log your specific workout plans. I started this on Saturday and I am addicted already. I love logging my workouts in it…it feels like a reward afterward. Sort of a way to say, “YEAH! I DID IT!” It also lets you log your water intake and your food choices throughout the day. It’s a great way to set a “long term” goal for 12 weeks out and then specifically go in each day and fill in what you did toward your goals. Each week, it also has a page for you to fill out and “check in” so you can make sure you’re on target.
I’ve been using this specifically to break through my plateau and for my hill running training. I’m super excited to see my measurements change throughout the 12 weeks as well!
I just started the 24 Day Advocare Challenge today, and I will be blogging about my journey throughout it on here. I am an Advocare distributor and really believe in their products, especially their Spark drink, which gives me a ton of energy and mental focus to get through my busy days. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about Advocare! I’m here to help.